Persnicketiness Definition Meaning MerriamWebsterPersnickety significance is somewhat elusive. It refers to someone who is extremely choosy and disapproving. A persnickety individual often nitpick and does not settle for less when it comes to standards and flawlessness. Their fastidious nature can be seen as admirable, but it can also exacerbate extreme censure and superfluous dissatisfaction. Being persnickety is frequently associated with thorough focus on specifics but can also be seen as a type of obsessiveness.